I was sitting in my youth pastor's kitchen the summer of 1990. David Kendall looked at me and said, "Travis, God showed me that you're going to be a worship leader."

So I said, "But, I don't sing or play an instrument."

So He said, "That doesn't matter … God will do it."

A few weeks later, David was leading worship for our little youth group. After a couple songs, he leaned into the mic and said, "Travis Jones is going to come lead this next song." I threw up in my mouth (not really) and went up to lead us in Kirk Dearman's classic "Above All Else." I felt stupid.

So, David started "making me" lead worship (he did allow me to prep though). Over time I decided I didn't like holding a mic in one hand and trying to figure out what to do with the other hand. Our piano player said he could teach me to play piano by chords. I jumped at the chance.

Since I'd become a Christian zealot with a mission of leading my school to Christ … my senior year of high school was lonely. Without any friends, I had plenty of time to practice the piano. I would get home after to school and spend hours learning to play the latest Dennis Jernigan songs. Along the way I also picked up the acoustic guitar.

God had captured my heart, and all I wanted to do was worship. I was blessed to be part of a community of believers who were passionate about worship.

For the next couple years, we would get together as a youth group leadership team or as friends and would often spend the evening worshipping. We weren't trying to be "spiritual." Sometimes we would plan to watch a movie, and then someone would say …"Did anyone bring a guitar? Let's worship for a little bit." Several hours later we would go home.

I learned in those times what it meant to corporately be in the presence of God. When I got the chance to lead worship for a church plant in 1995, my wife and I went. We were at Trinity Church (which was called Morning Star for a time), for 8 years. I learned how to build teams and train other worship leaders. I learned how to write songs that others could actually sing (and would want to).

After 3 years out of full-time ministry, I came on staff at Northwest Bible Church in 2006. I served as the Creative Director for a little over a year. When our worship leader left to go to the New Life School of Worship, I stepped in as Minister of Worship in June 2007.

I'm still learning and growing and desire to see people experience God's life-changing presence. The trials I've overcome and the pain I've endured have made me better. In His Goodness God uses suffering and pain and loss to draw us closer to Him. Praise be to God!